Thermostat with direction handoff features

ABSTRACT

A first thermostat of a building includes a communications interface configured to communicate with at least one of a second thermostat or a network server, a user interface configured to display information to a user and receive input from the user, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to generate building navigation direction data for user navigation through the building, cause the user interface to display a first building navigation direction based on the generated building navigation direction data, and cause, via the communications interface, the second thermostat to display a second building navigation direction on a second display of the second thermostat based on the generated building navigation direction data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/338,215 filed Oct. 28, 2016. This application is also acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/338,221filed Oct. 28, 2016. This application is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/336,792 filed Oct. 28, 2016, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/247,672 filedOct. 28, 2015, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/274,750 filed Jan. 4,2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/275,204 filed Jan. 5, 2016,U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/275,202 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,199 filed Jan. 5, 2016, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,711 filed Jan. 6, 2016. Thisapplication is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/336,789 filed Oct. 28, 2016, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/247,672 filed Oct. 28, 2015, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/274,750 filed Jan. 4, 2016, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,204 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,202 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,199 filed Jan. 5, 2016, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,711 filed Jan. 6, 2016. Thisapplication is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/397,722 filed Jan. 3, 2017, which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/336,791 filed Oct. 28, 2016,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/247,672filed Oct. 28, 2015, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/274,750 filedJan. 4, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/275,204 filed Jan. 5,2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/275,202 filed Jan. 5, 2016,U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/275,199 filed Jan. 5, 2016, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,711 filed Jan. 6, 2016. The entiretyof each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to HVAC control devices. Thepresent disclosure relates more particularly to thermostats.

Navigation through a building can be difficult for individualsunfamiliar with the building layout since the layout of each buildingmay be unique. Navigating a building may require an individual to pickup a map brochure from a front desk or request directions from otheroccupants of the building while navigating through the building. In theevent of a building emergency, occupants can follow exit signs to thenearest exit. However, exit signs are only useful in case of a buildingevacuation. Building occupants do not conventionally have a method forreceiving directions to respond to a shooter lockdown, a tornado, aflood, and other emergency situations. Additionally, finding aparticular room or area in a building can be challenging in buildingswith complex or unfamiliar layouts.

SUMMARY

One implementation of the present disclosure is a thermostat for abuilding. The thermostat includes an occupancy sensor configured tocollect occupancy data. The thermostat includes a communicationsinterface configured to communicate with one or more display devices inthe building and a user interface configured to display information to auser and receive input from the user. The thermostat includes aprocessing circuit configured to identify the user based on theoccupancy data and generate building navigation directions based on theidentity of the user and cause the user interface to display at least aportion of the building navigation directions. The processing circuit isconfigured to cause the communications interface to send at least aportion of the building navigation directions to at least one of thedevices in the building. In some embodiments, the display devices arethermostat devices.

In some embodiments, the portion of the building navigation directionsare a series of steps. The portion of the building navigation directionsmay be a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may bedisplayed by the thermostat while the second portion may be sent to atleast one of the display devices. The first portion may be a first stepand/or first set of steps. The second portion may be a second stepand/or second set of steps.

In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured toreceive locations of the display devices in the building from a buildingmanagement system.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to cause thecommunications interface to send the directions to at least one of thedisplay devices in the building based on the locations of the displaydevices in the building and the building navigation directions. Thebuilding navigation directions may include a route to a destination.

In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured tocommunicate with a user device and receive a user schedule from the userdevice. The processing circuit may be configured to generate thebuilding navigation directions based on the user schedule.

In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured tocommunicate with a building management system and receive userinformation associated with the identified user. In some embodiments,the processing circuit is configured to generate the building navigationdirections based on the user information. The user information includesat least one of an indication that the user is handicapped and aschedule of the user.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to generatealternate route directions in response to the user informationindicating that the identified user is handicapped, cause the userinterface to display at least a portion of the alternate routedirections when the user information indicates that the user ishandicapped, and cause the communications interface to send at least aportion of the alternate route directions to at least one of the displaydevices in the building.

In some embodiments, the portion of the alternate route directions are aseries of steps. The portion of the alternate route directions may be afirst portion and a second portion. The first portion may be displayedby the thermostat while the second portion may be sent to at least oneof the display devices. The first portion may be a first step and/orfirst set of steps. The second portion may be a second step and/orsecond set of steps.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a thermostat for abuilding. The thermostat includes an occupancy sensor configured tocollect occupancy data, a user interface configured to displayinformation to a user and receive input from the user, and a processingcircuit. The processing circuit is configured to identify the user basedon the occupancy data, generate building navigation directions based onthe identity of the user, and cause the user interface to display thebuilding navigation directions.

In some embodiments, the thermostat includes a communications interfaceconfigured to communicate with one or more other thermostats in thebuilding. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured tocause the communications interface to send at least a portion of thebuilding navigation directions to at least one of the other thermostatsin the building.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to cause thecommunications interface to send at least a portion of the directions toat least one of the other thermostats in the building based on locationsof the other thermostats in the building and the building navigationdirections. The building navigation directions may include a route to adestination.

In some embodiments, the user interface is configured to receive adirection request from a user, the direction request includes a requestfor directions to a particular area of the building.

In some embodiments, the thermostat includes a communications interfaceconfigured to communicate with a user device and receive a user schedulefrom the user device. The processing circuit may be configured togenerate the building navigation directions based on the user schedule.

In some embodiments, the thermostat includes a communications interfaceconfigured to communicate with a building management system and receiveuser information associated with the identified user. The processingcircuit may be configured to generate the building navigation directionsbased on the user information. The user information may include at leastone of an indication that the user is handicapped and a schedule of theuser.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to generatealternate route directions in response to the user informationindicating that the identified user is handicapped and cause the userinterface to display at least a portion of the alternate routedirections in response to the user information indicating that the useris handicapped.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to identifythe user based on the occupancy data by identifying a facial feature ofthe user when the occupancy sensor is a camera and the occupancy data isvideo data. The processing circuit may be configured to identify theuser based on the occupancy data by identifying voice biometrics of theuser when the occupancy sensor is a microphone and the occupancy data isaudio data.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method fordisplaying building navigation directions via a thermostat in abuilding. The method includes collecting occupancy data from anoccupancy sensor and identifying a user based on the occupancy data. Themethod includes generating the building navigation directions based onthe identity of the user and causing a user interface to display thebuilding navigation directions.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving locations of one ormore other thermostats in the building via a communications interface.

In some embodiments, the method includes causing the communicationsinterface to send at least a portion of the building navigationdirections to at least one of the other thermostats in the buildingbased on the locations of the other thermostats in the building and thebuilding navigation directions. The building navigation directions mayinclude a route to a destination.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving user informationassociated with the identified user. In some embodiments generating thebuilding navigation directions is based on the user information. Theuser information may include at least one of an indication that the useris handicapped and a schedule of the user.

In some embodiments, the method includes generating alternate routedirections in response to the user information indicating that theidentified user is handicapped and causing the user interface to displayat least a portion of the alternate route directions when the userinformation indicates that the user is handicapped.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a direction requestfrom a user via the user interface. The direction request may include arequest for directions to a particular area of the building andgenerating route directions based on the direction request. The methodmay include causing the user interface to display the route directions.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a first thermostatof a building. The first thermostat includes a communications interfaceconfigured to communicate with at least one of a second thermostat or anetwork server, a user interface configured to display information to auser and receive input from the user, and a processing circuit. Theprocessing circuit is configured to generate building navigationdirection data for user navigation through the building, cause the userinterface to display a first building navigation direction based on thegenerated building navigation direction data, and cause, via thecommunications interface, the second thermostat to display a secondbuilding navigation direction on a second display of the secondthermostat based on the generated building navigation direction data.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to cause, viathe communications interface, the second thermostat to display thesecond building navigation direction on the second display of the secondthermostat by communicating with at least one of the second thermostator the network server via the communications interface.

In some embodiments, the first thermostat is mounted on a first wall ofthe building and the second thermostat is mounted on a second wall ofthe building. The first thermostat and the second thermostat areconfigured to control environmental conditions of the building bygenerating control signals for controlling building equipment.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to receive,via the communication interface, a first indication of a first emergencyrelating to the building and generate the building navigation data basedon the first indication of the first emergency. In some embodiments, thefirst building navigation direction and the second building navigationdirection direct a user to follow an evacuation route, the firstthermostat and the second thermostat positioned along the evacuationroute.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to receive,via the communication interface, the first indication of the firstemergency from a wearable device of an occupant of the building. Thefirst indication indicates that the occupant is experiencing a healthemergency and includes a location of the occupant in the building. Theprocessing circuit generates the building navigation data based on thelocation of the occupant, a location of the first thermostat, and alocation of the second thermostat. The first building navigationdirection and the second building navigation direction direct acaregiver towards the location of the occupant.

In some embodiments, the first indication of the first emergencycomprises a first location of an active shooter in the building asdetermined by a shot detection system configured to detect a location ofthe active shooter within the building. The processing circuit isconfigured to generate the building navigation data based on a locationof the first thermostat, a location of the second thermostat, and thefirst location of the active shooter, and determine, based on thebuilding navigation data, the first building navigation direction andthe second building navigation direction, The first building navigationdirection and the second building navigation direction direct a user toevacuate the building on a first route that avoids the shooter withinthe building. The processing circuit is also configured to receive, viathe communication interface, a second indication of the first emergencycomprising a second location of the active shooter in the building andupdate the first building navigation direction and the second buildingnavigation direction based on the location of the first thermostat, thelocation of the second thermostat, and the second location of the activeshooter. The updated first building navigation direction and the updatedsecond building navigation direction direct the user to evacuate thebuilding on a second route that avoids the shooter within the building.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is also configured toreceive, via the communication interface, a second indication of asecond emergency relating to the building, determine that the secondemergency has a higher priority than the first emergency, and generatethe building navigation data based on the second indication of thesecond emergency.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to receive oneor more data streams via the communications interface. The one or moredata streams include a plurality of messages indicating an emergencyassociated with the building. The processing circuit is also configuredto analyze the one or more data streams to identify a type of emergencywithin the building and generate the building navigation data based onthe received one or more data streams and the identified type ofemergency within the building. In some embodiments, the one or more datastreams include at least one of a weather data stream indicating weatherconditions associated with the building, a news data stream indicatingone or more events associated with the building, or a social media datastream indicating one or more social media postings or commentsindicating an emergency.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method fordisplaying navigation directions in a building. The method includesproviding a communication session between a first thermostat of abuilding and at least one of a second thermostat or a network server,generating, by the first thermostat, building navigation direction datafor user navigation through the building, displaying, on a first displayof the first thermostat, a first building navigation direction based onthe generated building navigation direction data, and causing, by thefirst thermostat, a second display of the second thermostat to display asecond building navigation direction based on the generated buildingnavigation direction data.

In some embodiments, causing, by the first thermostat, the seconddisplay of the second thermostat to display the second buildingnavigation direction includes communicating, by the first thermostat,with at least one of the second thermostat or the network server via thecommunication session.

In some embodiments, the method also includes controlling, by the firstthermostat and the second thermostat, environmental conditions of thebuilding by generating control signals for controlling buildingequipment.

In some embodiments, the method also includes receiving one or more datastreams via the communications interface. The one or more data streamsincludes a plurality of messages indicating an emergency associated withthe building. The method also includes analyzing the one or more datastreams to identify a type of emergency within the building andgenerating the building navigation data based on the received one ormore data streams and the identified type of emergency within thebuilding.

In some embodiments, the method also includes receiving, by the firstthermostat, a first indication of a first emergency relating to thebuilding and generating, by the first thermostat, the buildingnavigation data based on the first indication of the first emergency. Insome embodiments, receiving, by the first thermostat, a first indicationof a first emergency relating to a building includes communicating witha social media server to monitor social media activity relating to thebuilding.

In some embodiments, the first indication of the first emergencyincludes a first location of an active shooter in the building asdetermined by a shot detection system configured to detect a location ofthe active shooter within the building, the method further comprising.The method includes generating the building navigation data based on alocation of the first thermostat, a location of the second thermostat,and the first location of the active shooter and determining, based onthe building navigation data, the first building navigation directionand the second building navigation direction. The first buildingnavigation direction and the second building navigation direction directa user to evacuate the building on a first route that avoids the shooterwithin the building. The method also includes receiving, via thecommunication interface, a second indication of the first emergencycomprising a second location of the active shooter in the building andupdating the first building navigation direction and the second buildingnavigation direction based on the location of the first thermostat, thelocation of the second thermostat, and the second location of the activeshooter. The updated first building navigation direction and the updatedsecond building navigation direction direct the user to evacuate thebuilding on a second route that avoids the shooter within the building.

In some embodiments, the method also includes receiving, by the firstthermostat, a second indication of a second emergency relating to thebuilding, determining, by the first thermostat, that the secondemergency has a higher priority than the first emergency, and generatingthe building navigation data based on the second indication of thesecond emergency.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a system fordisplaying navigation directions in a building. The system includes anemergency sensor configured to provide data relating to an emergency inthe building and a first thermostat. The first thermostat includes acommunications interface configured to communicate with at least one ofthe emergency sensor, a second thermostat, or a network server, a userinterface configured to display information to a user and receive inputfrom the user, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit isconfigured to generate building navigation direction data for usernavigation through the building based on data provided by the emergencysensor, cause the user interface to display a first building navigationdirection based on the generated building navigation direction data, andcause, via the communications interface, the second thermostat todisplay a second building navigation direction on a second display ofthe second thermostat based on the generated building navigationdirection data.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to cause, viathe communications interface, the second thermostat to display thesecond building navigation direction on the second display of the secondthermostat by communicating with at least one of the second thermostator the network server via the communications interface.

In some embodiments, the first thermostat is mounted on a first wall ofthe building and the second thermostat is mounted on a second wall ofthe building, wherein the first thermostat and the second thermostat areconfigured to control environmental conditions of the building bygenerating control signals for controlling building equipment.

In some embodiments, the data provided by the emergency sensor comprisesan indication of a location of an emergency in the building. The firstbuilding navigation direction and the second building navigationdirection direct a user to follow an evacuation route that avoids thelocation of the emergency.

In some embodiments, the system also includes a second emergency sensoroperable to provide second data relating to a second emergency in thebuilding. The processing circuit is configured to determine that thesecond emergency has a high priority than the emergency and generate thebuilding navigation data based on the second data relating to the secondemergency.

In some embodiments, the emergency sensor includes one or more of asmoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, a fire pull handle, a panicbutton, a sprinkler system, an automatic door control system, or agunshot detection system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a building equipped with a HVAC system,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a waterside system that may be used inconjunction with the building of FIG. 1, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an airside system that may be used inconjunction with the building of FIG. 1, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a communications system located in thebuilding of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a communications system located in thebuilding of FIG. 1 where the display devices are communicating ad hoc,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the display device of FIGS. 4-5in greater detail, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the displaydevice of FIGS. 4-5 in greater detail, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the displaydevice of FIGS. 4-5 in greater detail, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of operations for prioritizing directions anddisplaying the directions on the display device of FIGS. 4-8, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of operations for handing off directionsbetween multiple display devices of FIGS. 4-8, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of operations for detaching the display deviceof FIGS. 4-8 from the wall in an emergency situation, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a drawing of the display device of FIGS. 4-8 displaying anemergency warning, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a drawing of the display device of FIGS. 4-8 displaying abuilding event notification, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a drawing of the display device of FIGS. 4-8 displaying aroute notification, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a drawing of the display device of FIGS. 4-8 displaying ahandicap route notification, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a drawing of the display device of FIGS. 4-8 displaying anemergency direction, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

Referring generally to the FIGURES, systems and methods for displayingbuilding navigation directions with a display device are shown,according to various exemplary embodiments. Several examples of displaydevices which can be configured for building navigation and messagingfeatures are described in detail in U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/247,672 filed Oct. 28, 2015, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/275,199 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/274,750 filed Jan. 4, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/275,202 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/275,204 filed Jan. 5, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/275,711 filed Jan. 6, 2016, U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/336,793 filed Oct. 28, 2016, U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/336,792 filed Oct. 28, 2016, U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/336,789 filed Oct. 28, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/336,791 filed Oct. 28, 2016. The entire disclosure of each of thesepatent applications is incorporated by reference herein. In someembodiments, the display device is configured to display directions toan occupant of the building. The directions may be navigation directionsto a location in the building (e.g., a conference room, an office,etc.). In various embodiments, the display device may display emergencydirections to the occupant when there is a building emergency. Thebuilding emergency may be a storm, a tornado, a fire, and activeshooter, and/or any other building emergency. The emergency directionscan instruct the occupant how to respond to the building emergency. Theemergency directions may instruct the occupant to evacuate the buildingand may give the occupant route directions to the nearest building exit.In various embodiments, the emergency directions may instruct theoccupant to hide and lock doors and windows, take shelter under a deskor table, and/or any other instruction for surviving a buildingemergency.

In some embodiments, the display device may communicate to a network. Insome embodiments, the display device can connect various servers andsystems. The display device may communicate to other display devices,mobile devices, and building management systems over the servers and/orthrough ad hoc communication. In some embodiments, the display devicemay be configured to determine a priority for displaying directions. Thedisplay device may be configured to opportunistically display buildingevent notifications. The display device may be configured to connect toa cellular device and display directions based on mobile applicationsrunning on the cellular device. Further, the display device may beconfigured to perform occupant identification and may retrieveinformation based on the meeting schedule of an identified individualand display directions to certain conference rooms or locations in thebuilding based on the identified occupant and a schedule associated withthe identified occupant.

In some embodiments, the display device may be configured to look updirections for an individual. The individual may be able to input aconference room, office location, and/or any other location into a userinterface of the display device. The display device may be configured todisplay directions to the request location.

In the event of an emergency, the display device may be configured todisplay emergency response directions, direct a user to an exit, andprompt the user to remove the display device from the wall. Onceremoved, the display device may use GPS coordinates to direct anindividual to the nearest exit, safe location, fallout shelter, and/orany other location in the event of an emergency. In some embodiments,the display device includes a battery and a battery controller circuit.When the user removes the display device from the wall, the batterycontroller circuit may be configured to cause the batter to power thedisplay device.

In some embodiments, the display device may be communicatively connectedto one or more building display devices. In some embodiments, thedisplay device may be configured to push and/or send display directionsto the building display devices. In some embodiments, the display deviceis configured to determine what building display devices are located onroute to a destination. In some embodiments, the display devicesselectively send the directions to display devices that are located onroute to the destination.

Building Management System and HVAC System

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary building management system(BMS) and HVAC system in which the systems and methods of the presentinvention can be implemented are shown, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a perspective view of abuilding 10 is shown. Building 10 is served by a BMS. A BMS is, ingeneral, a system of devices configured to control, monitor, and manageequipment in or around a building or building area. A BMS can include,for example, a HVAC system, a security system, a lighting system, a firealerting system, any other system that is capable of managing buildingfunctions or devices, or any combination thereof.

The BMS that serves building 10 includes an HVAC system 100. HVAC system100 can include a plurality of HVAC devices (e.g., heaters, chillers,air handling units, pumps, fans, thermal energy storage, etc.)configured to provide heating, cooling, ventilation, or other servicesfor building 10. For example, HVAC system 100 is shown to include awaterside system 120 and an airside system 130. Waterside system 120 canprovide a heated or chilled fluid to an air handling unit of airsidesystem 130. Airside system 130 can use the heated or chilled fluid toheat or cool an airflow provided to building 10. An exemplary watersidesystem and airside system which can be used in HVAC system 100 aredescribed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-3.

HVAC system 100 is shown to include a chiller 102, a boiler 104, and arooftop air handling unit (AHU) 106. Waterside system 120 can use boiler104 and chiller 102 to heat or cool a working fluid (e.g., water,glycol, etc.) and can circulate the working fluid to AHU 106. In variousembodiments, the HVAC devices of waterside system 120 can be located inor around building 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) or at an offsite locationsuch as a central plant (e.g., a chiller plant, a steam plant, a heatplant, etc.). The working fluid can be heated in boiler 104 or cooled inchiller 102, depending on whether heating or cooling is required inbuilding 10. Boiler 104 can add heat to the circulated fluid, forexample, by burning a combustible material (e.g., natural gas) or usingan electric heating element. Chiller 102 can place the circulated fluidin a heat exchange relationship with another fluid (e.g., a refrigerant)in a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) to absorb heat from thecirculated fluid. The working fluid from chiller 102 and/or boiler 104can be transported to AHU 106 via piping 108.

AHU 106 can place the working fluid in a heat exchange relationship withan airflow passing through AHU 106 (e.g., via one or more stages ofcooling coils and/or heating coils). The airflow can be, for example,outside air, return air from within building 10, or a combination ofboth. AHU 106 can transfer heat between the airflow and the workingfluid to provide heating or cooling for the airflow. For example, AHU106 can include one or more fans or blowers configured to pass theairflow over or through a heat exchanger containing the working fluid.The working fluid can then return to chiller 102 or boiler 104 viapiping 110.

Airside system 130 can deliver the airflow supplied by AHU 106 (i.e.,the supply airflow) to building 10 via air supply ducts 112 and canprovide return air from building 10 to AHU 106 via air return ducts 114.In some embodiments, airside system 130 includes multiple variable airvolume (VAV) units 116. For example, airside system 130 is shown toinclude a separate VAV unit 116 on each floor or zone of building 10.VAV units 116 can include dampers or other flow control elements thatcan be operated to control an amount of the supply airflow provided toindividual zones of building 10. In other embodiments, airside system130 delivers the supply airflow into one or more zones of building 10(e.g., via supply ducts 112) without using intermediate VAV units 116 orother flow control elements. AHU 106 can include various sensors (e.g.,temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc.) configured to measureattributes of the supply airflow. AHU 106 can receive input from sensorslocated within AHU 106 and/or within the building zone and can adjustthe flow rate, temperature, or other attributes of the supply airflowthrough AHU 106 to achieve setpoint conditions for the building zone.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a waterside system 200 isshown, according to an exemplary embodiment. In various embodiments,waterside system 200 can supplement or replace waterside system 120 inHVAC system 100 or can be implemented separate from HVAC system 100.When implemented in HVAC system 100, waterside system 200 can include asubset of the HVAC devices in HVAC system 100 (e.g., boiler 104, chiller102, pumps, valves, etc.) and can operate to supply a heated or chilledfluid to AHU 106. The HVAC devices of waterside system 200 can belocated within building 10 (e.g., as components of waterside system 120)or at an offsite location such as a central plant.

In FIG. 2, waterside system 200 is shown as a central plant having aplurality of subplants 202-212. Subplants 202-212 are shown to include aheater subplant 202, a heat recovery chiller subplant 204, a chillersubplant 206, a cooling tower subplant 208, a hot thermal energy storage(TES) subplant 210, and a cold thermal energy storage (TES) subplant212. Subplants 202-212 consume resources (e.g., water, natural gas,electricity, etc.) from utilities to serve the thermal energy loads(e.g., hot water, cold water, heating, cooling, etc.) of a building orcampus. For example, heater subplant 202 can be configured to heat waterin a hot water loop 214 that circulates the hot water between heatersubplant 202 and building 10. Chiller subplant 206 can be configured tochill water in a cold water loop 216 that circulates the cold waterbetween chiller subplant 206 building 10. Heat recovery chiller subplant204 can be configured to transfer heat from cold water loop 216 to hotwater loop 214 to provide additional heating for the hot water andadditional cooling for the cold water. Condenser water loop 218 canabsorb heat from the cold water in chiller subplant 206 and reject theabsorbed heat in cooling tower subplant 208 or transfer the absorbedheat to hot water loop 214. Hot TES subplant 210 and cold TES subplant212 can store hot and cold thermal energy, respectively, for subsequentuse.

Hot water loop 214 and cold water loop 216 can deliver the heated and/orchilled water to air handlers located on the rooftop of building 10(e.g., AHU 106) or to individual floors or zones of building 10 (e.g.,VAV units 116). The air handlers push air past heat exchangers (e.g.,heating coils or cooling coils) through which the water flows to provideheating or cooling for the air. The heated or cooled air can bedelivered to individual zones of building 10 to serve the thermal energyloads of building 10. The water then returns to subplants 202-212 toreceive further heating or cooling.

Although subplants 202-212 are shown and described as heating andcooling water for circulation to a building, it is understood that anyother type of working fluid (e.g., glycol, CO2, etc.) can be used inplace of or in addition to water to serve the thermal energy loads. Inother embodiments, subplants 202-212 can provide heating and/or coolingdirectly to the building or campus without requiring an intermediateheat transfer fluid. These and other variations to waterside system 200are within the teachings of the present invention.

Each of subplants 202-212 can include a variety of equipment configuredto facilitate the functions of the subplant. For example, heatersubplant 202 is shown to include a plurality of heating elements 220(e.g., boilers, electric heaters, etc.) configured to add heat to thehot water in hot water loop 214. Heater subplant 202 is also shown toinclude several pumps 222 and 224 configured to circulate the hot waterin hot water loop 214 and to control the flow rate of the hot waterthrough individual heating elements 220. Chiller subplant 206 is shownto include a plurality of chillers 232 configured to remove heat fromthe cold water in cold water loop 216. Chiller subplant 206 is alsoshown to include several pumps 234 and 236 configured to circulate thecold water in cold water loop 216 and to control the flow rate of thecold water through individual chillers 232.

Heat recovery chiller subplant 204 is shown to include a plurality ofheat recovery heat exchangers 226 (e.g., refrigeration circuits)configured to transfer heat from cold water loop 216 to hot water loop214. Heat recovery chiller subplant 204 is also shown to include severalpumps 228 and 230 configured to circulate the hot water and/or coldwater through heat recovery heat exchangers 226 and to control the flowrate of the water through individual heat recovery heat exchangers 226.Cooling tower subplant 208 is shown to include a plurality of coolingtowers 238 configured to remove heat from the condenser water incondenser water loop 218. Cooling tower subplant 208 is also shown toinclude several pumps 240 configured to circulate the condenser water incondenser water loop 218 and to control the flow rate of the condenserwater through individual cooling towers 238.

Hot TES subplant 210 is shown to include a hot TES tank 242 configuredto store the hot water for later use. Hot TES subplant 210 can alsoinclude one or more pumps or valves configured to control the flow rateof the hot water into or out of hot TES tank 242. Cold TES subplant 212is shown to include cold TES tanks 244 configured to store the coldwater for later use. Cold TES subplant 212 can also include one or morepumps or valves configured to control the flow rate of the cold waterinto or out of cold TES tanks 244.

In some embodiments, one or more of the pumps in waterside system 200(e.g., pumps 222, 224, 228, 230, 234, 236, and/or 240) or pipelines inwaterside system 200 include an isolation valve associated therewith.Isolation valves can be integrated with the pumps or positioned upstreamor downstream of the pumps to control the fluid flows in watersidesystem 200. In various embodiments, waterside system 200 can includemore, fewer, or different types of devices and/or subplants based on theparticular configuration of waterside system 200 and the types of loadsserved by waterside system 200.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of an airside system 300 isshown, according to an exemplary embodiment. In various embodiments,airside system 300 can supplement or replace airside system 130 in HVACsystem 100 or can be implemented separate from HVAC system 100. Whenimplemented in HVAC system 100, airside system 300 can include a subsetof the HVAC devices in HVAC system 100 (e.g., AHU 106, VAV units 116,ducts 112-114, fans, dampers, etc.) and can be located in or aroundbuilding 10. Airside system 300 can operate to heat or cool an airflowprovided to building 10 using a heated or chilled fluid provided bywaterside system 200.

In FIG. 3, airside system 300 is shown to include an economizer-type airhandling unit (AHU) 302. Economizer-type AHUs vary the amount of outsideair and return air used by the air handling unit for heating or cooling.For example, AHU 302 can receive return air 304 from building zone 306via return air duct 308 and can deliver supply air 310 to building zone306 via supply air duct 312. In some embodiments, AHU 302 is a rooftopunit located on the roof of building 10 (e.g., AHU 106 as shown inFIG. 1) or otherwise positioned to receive both return air 304 andoutside air 314. AHU 302 can be configured to operate exhaust air damper316, mixing damper 318, and outside air damper 320 to control an amountof outside air 314 and return air 304 that combine to form supply air310. Any return air 304 that does not pass through mixing damper 318 canbe exhausted from AHU 302 through exhaust damper 316 as exhaust air 322.

Each of dampers 316-320 can be operated by an actuator. For example,exhaust air damper 316 can be operated by actuator 324, mixing damper318 can be operated by actuator 326, and outside air damper 320 can beoperated by actuator 328. Actuators 324-328 can communicate with an AHUcontroller 330 via a communications link 332. Actuators 324-328 canreceive control signals from AHU controller 330 and can provide feedbacksignals to AHU controller 330. Feedback signals can include, forexample, an indication of a current actuator or damper position, anamount of torque or force exerted by the actuator, diagnosticinformation (e.g., results of diagnostic tests performed by actuators324-328), status information, commissioning information, configurationsettings, calibration data, and/or other types of information or datathat can be collected, stored, or used by actuators 324-328. AHUcontroller 330 can be an economizer controller configured to use one ormore control algorithms (e.g., state-based algorithms, extremum seekingcontrol (ESC) algorithms, proportional-integral (PI) control algorithms,proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithms, modelpredictive control (MPC) algorithms, feedback control algorithms, etc.)to control actuators 324-328.

Still referring to FIG. 3, AHU 302 is shown to include a cooling coil334, a heating coil 336, and a fan 338 positioned within supply air duct312. Fan 338 can be configured to force supply air 310 through coolingcoil 334 and/or heating coil 336 and provide supply air 310 to buildingzone 306. AHU controller 330 can communicate with fan 338 viacommunications link 340 to control a flow rate of supply air 310. Insome embodiments, AHU controller 330 controls an amount of heating orcooling applied to supply air 310 by modulating a speed of fan 338.

Cooling coil 334 can receive a chilled fluid from waterside system 200(e.g., from cold water loop 216) via piping 342 and can return thechilled fluid to waterside system 200 via piping 344. Valve 346 can bepositioned along piping 342 or piping 344 to control a flow rate of thechilled fluid through cooling coil 334. In some embodiments, coolingcoil 334 includes multiple stages of cooling coils that can beindependently activated and deactivated (e.g., by AHU controller 330, byBMS controller 366, etc.) to modulate an amount of cooling applied tosupply air 310.

Heating coil 336 can receive a heated fluid from waterside system 200(e.g., from hot water loop 214) via piping 348 and can return the heatedfluid to waterside system 200 via piping 350. Valve 352 can bepositioned along piping 348 or piping 350 to control a flow rate of theheated fluid through heating coil 336. In some embodiments, heating coil336 includes multiple stages of heating coils that can be independentlyactivated and deactivated (e.g., by AHU controller 330, by BMScontroller 366, etc.) to modulate an amount of heating applied to supplyair 310.

Each of valves 346 and 352 can be controlled by an actuator. Forexample, valve 346 can be controlled by actuator 354 and valve 352 canbe controlled by actuator 356. Actuators 354-356 can communicate withAHU controller 330 via communications links 358-360. Actuators 354-356can receive control signals from AHU controller 330 and can providefeedback signals to controller 330. In some embodiments, AHU controller330 receives a measurement of the supply air temperature from atemperature sensor 362 positioned in supply air duct 312 (e.g.,downstream of cooling coil 334 and/or heating coil 336). AHU controller330 can also receive a measurement of the temperature of building zone306 from a temperature sensor 364 located in building zone 306.

In some embodiments, AHU controller 330 operates valves 346 and 352 viaactuators 354-356 to modulate an amount of heating or cooling providedto supply air 310 (e.g., to achieve a setpoint temperature for supplyair 310 or to maintain the temperature of supply air 310 within asetpoint temperature range). The positions of valves 346 and 352 affectthe amount of heating or cooling provided to supply air 310 by coolingcoil 334 or heating coil 336 and may correlate with the amount of energyconsumed to achieve a desired supply air temperature. AHU controller 330can control the temperature of supply air 310 and/or building zone 306by activating or deactivating coils 334-336, adjusting a speed of fan338, or a combination of both.

Still referring to FIG. 3, airside system 300 is shown to include abuilding management system (BMS) controller 366 and a client device 368.BMS controller 366 can include one or more computer systems (e.g.,servers, supervisory controllers, subsystem controllers, etc.) thatserve as system level controllers, application or data servers, headnodes, or master controllers for airside system 300, waterside system200, HVAC system 100, and/or other controllable systems that servebuilding 10. BMS controller 366 can communicate with multiple downstreambuilding systems or subsystems (e.g., HVAC system 100, a securitysystem, a lighting system, waterside system 200, etc.) via acommunications link 370 according to like or disparate protocols (e.g.,LON, BACnet, etc.). In various embodiments, AHU controller 330 and BMScontroller 366 can be separate (as shown in FIG. 3) or integrated. In anintegrated implementation, AHU controller 330 can be a software moduleconfigured for execution by a processor of BMS controller 366.

In some embodiments, AHU controller 330 receives information from BMScontroller 366 (e.g., commands, setpoints, operating boundaries, etc.)and provides information to BMS controller 366 (e.g., temperaturemeasurements, valve or actuator positions, operating statuses,diagnostics, etc.). For example, AHU controller 330 can provide BMScontroller 366 with temperature measurements from temperature sensors362-364, equipment on/off states, equipment operating capacities, and/orany other information that can be used by BMS controller 366 to monitoror control a variable state or condition within building zone 306.

Client device 368 can include one or more human-machine interfaces orclient interfaces (e.g., graphical user interfaces, reportinginterfaces, text-based computer interfaces, client-facing web services,web servers that provide pages to web clients, etc.) for controlling,viewing, or otherwise interacting with HVAC system 100, its subsystems,and/or devices. Client device 368 can be a computer workstation, aclient terminal, a remote or local interface, or any other type of userinterface device. Client device 368 can be a stationary terminal or amobile device. For example, client device 368 can be a desktop computer,a computer server with a user interface, a laptop computer, a tablet, asmartphone, a PDA, or any other type of mobile or non-mobile device.Client device 368 can communicate with BMS controller 366 and/or AHUcontroller 330 via communications link 372.

Display Device With Building Navigation Features

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of communications system 400 isshown, according to an exemplary embodiment. System 400 can beimplemented in a building (e.g. building 10) and is shown to includedisplay device 402, network 404, building emergency sensor(s) 406,weather server(s) 408, building management system 410, social mediaserver(s) 411, and user device 412. System 400 connects devices,systems, and servers via network 404 so that emergency information,navigation directions, and other information can be passed betweendevices (e.g., display device 402, user device 412, building emergencysensor(s) 406) and servers and systems (e.g., social media server(s)411, weather server(s) 408, and building management system 410).

In some embodiments, network 404 communicatively couples the devices,systems, and servers of system 400. In some embodiments, network 404 isat least one of and/or a combination of a Wi-Fi network, a wiredEthernet network, a Zigbee network, a Bluetooth network, and/or anyother wireless network. Network 404 may be a local area network or awide area network (e.g., the Internet, a building WAN, etc.) and may usea variety of communications protocols (e.g., BACnet, IP, LON, etc.).Network 404 may include routers, modems, and/or network switches.Network 404 may be a combination of wired and wireless networks.

In some embodiments, display device 402 is configured to receiveemergency information and navigation directions via network 404. In someembodiments, display device 402 is a wall mounted device with a displayscreen. For example, display device 402 can be a thermostat, ahumidistat, a light controller, and any other wall mounted device with adisplay screen. In some embodiments, display device 402 is connected tobuilding emergency sensor(s) 406 and receives emergency data from thebuilding emergency sensor(s) 406. In some embodiments, buildingemergency sensor(s) 406 are sensors which detect building emergencies.Building emergency sensor(s) 406 can include, for example, smokedetectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire pull handles, panic buttons,gunshot detection sensors, and any other emergency sensor. In someembodiments, the emergency sensor(s) include actuators. The actuatorsmay be building emergency sirens, a sprinkler and/or sprinkler system,an automatic door controller and/or automatic door control system, andany other actuator used in a building. In some embodiments, buildingemergency sensor(s) 406 may communicate with building management system410. Building management system 410 may sensor data from the buildingemergency sensor(s) 410. In various embodiments, building managementsystem 410 may send the sensor data and/or emergency informationassociated with the sensor data to display device 402.

In some embodiments, display device 402 is communicatively coupled toweather server(s) 408 via network 404. In some embodiments, displaydevice 402 is configured to receive weather alerts (e.g., high and lowdaily temperature, five day forecast, thirty day forecast, etc.) fromthe weather server(s) 408. Display device 402 may be configured toreceive emergency weather alerts (e.g., flood warnings, fire warnings,thunder storm warnings, winter storm warnings, etc.) from the weatherserver(s) 408. In some embodiments, display device 402 is configured todisplay emergency warnings via a user interface of display device 402when display device 402 receives an emergency weather alert from weatherserver(s) 408. Display device 402 may be configured to display emergencywarnings based on the data received from building emergency sensor(s)406. In some embodiments, display device 402 causes a siren to alertoccupants of the building of an emergency, causes all doors to becomelocked and/or unlocked, causes an advisory message be broadcast throughthe building, and/or controls any other actuator or system necessary forresponding to a building emergency. In some embodiments, the buildingmanagement system 410 communicates with weather server 408. Buildingmanagement system 410 may communicate (e.g., send) information fromweather server 408 to display device 402.

In some embodiments, display device 402 is configured to communicatewith building management system 410 via network 404. Display device 402may be configured to transmit environmental setpoints (e.g., temperaturesetpoint, humidity setpoint, etc.) to building management system 410. Insome embodiments, building management system 410 is configured to causezones of a building (e.g., building 10) to be controlled to the setpointreceived from display device 402. For example, building managementsystem 410 may be configured to control the temperature, humidity,lighting, or other environmental conditions of a building based on thesetpoints or control signals received from display device 402. In someembodiments, building management system 410 is configured to transmitemergency information to display device 402. The emergency informationcan include, for example, a notification of a shooter lockdown, atornado warning, a flood warning, a thunderstorm warning, and/or anyother warning. In some embodiments, building management system 410 isconnected to various weather servers and/or other web servers from whichbuilding management system 410 receives emergency warning information.

In some embodiments, the display device 402 is configured to communicatewith one or more social media server(s) 411 via network 404. Socialmedia server(s) 411 may include, but are not limited to, serverssupporting Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and/orother social media platforms. In some embodiments, the display device402 may have a profile or other presence on a social media platform,such that a user may send a direct message, post, tweet, etc. to thedisplay device 402. For example, a user may tweet at (i.e., via Twitter)or send a direct message to (e.g., via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp,etc.) the display device 402 and/or the building management system 410to indicate that an emergency is ongoing in a building (e.g.,“@displaydevice402 a fire just started in Room X”). The display device402 may receive such a message, tweet, post, etc., extract relevantinformation therefrom using a natural language processing approach, andgenerate emergency directions based on the extracted information. Insome embodiments, the display device 402 is configured to send a messageor comment to the user in response, for example using an automated chatbot approach.

In various embodiments, the display device 402 access the social mediaserver(s) to passively monitor social media activity of one or moreoccupants of a building to identify events in a building and/oremergencies in a building. For example, the display device 402 mayaccess a message sent from a first user of a social media server 411 toa second user of the social media server 411 which mentions an ongoingemergency in the building. As another example, the display device 402may analyze pictures and/or videos posted publically by a social mediauser (e.g., via Snapchat, Instagram, etc.) to identify buildingoccupancy, events in the building, emergencies in the building, etc. andrespond accordingly. For example, a user may post a video that shows anactive shooter in a building, and the display device 402 may receivesaid video, analyze said video to determine a location of the shooter inthe building, and generate one or more directions to provide to one ormore building occupants to help the occupants find safety. Various suchinteractions between the social media server(s) 411 and the displaydevice 402 are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Display device 402 can be configured to communicate with user device 412via network 404. In some embodiments, user device 412 communicatescalendar information to display device 402. User device 412 can includeany user-operable computing device such as smartphones, tablets, laptopcomputers, desktop computers, wearable devices (e.g., smart watches,smart wrist bands, smart glasses, etc.), and/or any other computingdevice. User device 412 can be a mobile device or a non-mobile device.In some embodiments, the calendar information is stored and/or enteredby a user into calendar application 414. Calendar application 414 may beone or a combination of Outlook, Google Calendar, Fantastical, Shifts,CloudCal, DigiCal, and/or any other calendar application. Display device402 may receive calendar information from the calendar application suchas times and locations of appointments, times and locations of meetings,information about the expected location of the user, and/or any othercalendar information. Information about the expected location of theuser may be information that the user will depart for an airport oranother location at a specific time or in a range of times. Displaydevice 402 may be configured to display direction to a user associatedwith user device 412 based on the calendar information stored incalendar application 414.

In various embodiments, the user device 412 provides various data andinformation regarding use of the user device 412 to the display device402 and/or the building management system 410. For example, the displaydevice 402 may collect a live feed of the usage of the user device 412to facilitate identification and characterization of buildingemergencies and/or to facilitate the provision of directions to a userin case of an emergency. For example, the display device 402 may receivedata relating to an emergency call made by the user device 412, thelocation of the user device 412 (e.g., based on GPS data collected bythe user device 412), social media activity of a user of the user device412, etc. In some embodiments, the display device 402 activates amicrophone and/or camera of the user device 412 in an emergencysituation to monitor the safety of a user in an emergency situation.

In some embodiments, a user may press a button on a user interface ofdisplay device 402 indicating a building emergency. The user may be ableto indicate the type of emergency (e.g., fire, flood, medical, activeshooter, etc.). Display device 402 may communicate an alert to buildingmanagement system 410, user device 412, social media server 411 and/orany other device, system, or server. For example, display device 402 maybe configured to cause the social media server 411 to generate a socialmedia notification relating to a building emergency for a user.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram of communications system 500 isshown, according to an exemplary embodiment. System 500 can beimplemented in a building (e.g. building 10) and is shown to includedisplay device 402, network 404, building emergency sensor(s) 406,weather server(s) 408, building management system 410, and user device412. These components may be the similar or the same as described withreference to FIG. 4. System 500 connects devices, systems, and serversvia network 404 so that emergency information, navigation directions,and other information can be passed between devices (e.g., displaydevice 402, user device 412, building emergency sensor(s) 406) andservers and systems (e.g., weather server(s) 408 and building managementsystem 410).

In some embodiments, system 500 includes display devices 416 and 418.Display devices 416 and 418 may be identical and/or similar to displaydevice 402. In some embodiments display devices 416 and 418 have theability to communicate to display device 402 but are different fromdisplay device 402. For example, display device 416 and display device418 can be smart actuators, building controllers, etc., while displaydevice 402 can be a smart thermostat. Display device 402, display device416, and display device 418 may be located in different locations of abuilding (e.g., building 10). In some embodiments, display device 402,display device 416, display device 418 and user device 412 maycommunicate to each other ad hoc. In some embodiments, display device402, display device 416, and display device 418 may communicate to eachother via network 404. In some embodiments, ad hoc communication may beat least one of (ad hoc Wi-Fi, ad hoc Zigbee, ad hoc Bluetooth, NFC,etc.) In some embodiments, the devices form a MANET, a VANET, a SPAN, anIMANET, and/or any other ad hoc network. In some embodiments, thedevices are connected and communicate via RS-485, Ethernet, and/or anyother wired, wireless, or combination of wired and wirelesscommunication method.

In some embodiments, display device 402, display device 416, displaydevice 418 send navigation directions to one another via ad hoccommunication. In some embodiments, one of the display devicesdetermines a route for a building occupant. The route may be the fastestor shortest path to a destination (e.g., a conference room, an office,etc.). Display device may handoff the navigation directions to otherdisplay devices (e.g., display device 416, display device 418, etc.)along the path of the occupant. In some embodiments, the route may meeta need of the occupant, such as a route that will accommodatewheelchairs if the occupant is in a wheelchair or traveling with someonein a wheelchair.

In some embodiments, user device 412 is configured to communicate withdisplay device 402, display device 416, and display device 418 via adhoc communication. In some embodiments, user device 412 may communicatewith the display devices (e.g., display device 402, display device 416,display device 418, etc.) and request navigation directions. In someembodiments, a user may check in with a display device and the displaydevice may display navigation information for the individual associatedwith the user device 412. Checking in with the display device may beholding user device 412 a certain distance from the display device sothat user device 412 can communicate with the display device via NFC. Invarious embodiments, checking in with the display device includesconnecting to the display device via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee andentering a password and/or username.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram illustrating display device 402in greater detail is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment.Display device 402 is shown to include a communications interface 602,an occupancy sensor 604, a speaker 606, a user interface 608, and aprocessing circuit 610. Display device 402 can be configured to displaydirections and/or other types of information to a user via userinterface 608. In some embodiments, display device 402 is configured todetermine a highest priority direction and/or emergency notification anddisplay the direction and/or emergency notification on user interface608. In some embodiments, displaying the directions on user interface608 is accompanied by playing the direction and/or emergencynotification via speaker 606. The priority of direction and/or emergencynotification may be determined based on detecting emergencies,identifying users with occupancy sensor 604, and receiving directionsover communications interface 602.

Communications interface 602 may be configured to communicate withnetwork 404 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-5. Communicationsinterface 602 can be configured to communicate via local area networks(e.g., a building LAN), wide area networks (e.g., the Internet, acellular network, etc.), conduct direct communications (e.g., NFC,Bluetooth, etc.) ad hoc with devices (e.g., ad hoc Wi-Fi, ad hoc Zigbee,ad hoc Bluetooth, NFC etc.), and/or with ad hoc networks (e.g., MANET, aVANET, a SPAN, an IMANET, and any other ad hoc network). In someembodiments, communications interface 602 communicates ad hoc withdisplay device 402, display device 416, and/or display device 418. Insome embodiments, communications interface 602 includes an applicationgateway configured to receive input from applications running on clientdevices. Communications interface 602 can include one or more wirelesstransceivers (e.g., a Wi-Fi transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a NFCtransceiver, a cellular transceiver, etc.) for communicating with mobiledevices.

In some embodiments, communications interface 602 communicates withdisplay device 416, display device 418, building emergency sensor(s)406, weather server(s) 408, building management system 410, and/or userdevice 412 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-5 to receiveenvironmental condition information, direction requests and/or emergencynotifications. Communications interface 602 may receive navigationrequests from user device 412. Communications interface 602 may receivenavigation direction and/or building maps from building managementsystem 410. In some embodiments, emergency information and/or alerts arereceived via communications interface 602 from building managementsystem 410. In some embodiments, emergency information is received formbuilding emergency sensor(s) 406. In some embodiments, emergencyinformation is received from weather server(s) 408.

Occupancy sensor 604 may be used to detect occupancy and determine theidentity of the occupant. Occupancy sensor 604 may be one or acombination of motion sensors, cameras, microphones, capacitive sensors,or any number of other sensors. For example, occupancy sensor 604 caninclude one or more cameras which detect heat signatures. Occupancysensor 604 may detect separate objects and distinguish between humansand other objects. Occupancy sensor 604 can include one or moretransducers which detect some characteristic of their respectiveenvironment and surroundings. Occupancy sensors, such as a camera, maybe used to determine if an occupant is using a wheelchair, cane,crutches, and/or any other assistance device.

Speaker 606 may be configured to project audio. The audio may be warningmessages, direction messages, alternate route suggestion messages andany other message. Speaker 606 may be any kind of electroacoustictransducer and/or combination of transducers that are configured togenerate sound waves based on electrical signals. Speaker 606 may be aloudspeaker (e.g., various combinations of subwoofers, woofers,mid-range drivers, tweeters, etc.) and may broadcast messages to anentire zone and/or an entire building (e.g., building 10). In someembodiments, speaker 606 includes filters. In some embodiments, thefilters are various combinations of high pass filters, low pass filters,band pass filters, etc.

User interface 608 may be a touch screen display configured to receiveinput from a user and display images and text to a user. In someembodiments, user interface 608 is at least one or a combination of aresistive touch screen and a capacitive touch screen (e.g., projectivecapacitive touch screen). In some embodiments, user interface 608 is aswept-volume display, a varifocal mirror display, an emissive volumedisplay, a laser display, a holographic display, a light field display,and/or any other display or combination of displays. User interface 608may be configured to display images and text to a user but may not beconfigured to receive input from the user. In some embodiments, userinterface 608 is one or a combination of a CRT display, an LCD display,an LED display, a plasma display, and/or an OLED display.

Processing circuit 610 is shown to include a processor 612 and memory614. Processor 612 can be a general purpose or specific purposeprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one ormore field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processingcomponents, or other suitable processing components. Processor 612 maybe configured to execute computer code and/or instructions stored inmemory 614 or received from other computer readable media (e.g., CDROM,network storage, a remote server, etc.).

Memory 614 can include one or more devices (e.g., memory units, memorydevices, storage devices, etc.) for storing data and/or computer codefor completing and/or facilitating the various processes described inthe present disclosure. Memory 614 can include random access memory(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard drive storage, temporary storage,non-volatile memory, flash memory, optical memory, or any other suitablememory for storing software objects and/or computer instructions. Memory614 can include database components, object code components, scriptcomponents, or any other type of information structure for supportingthe various activities and information structures described in thepresent disclosure. Memory 614 can be communicably connected toprocessor 612 via processing circuit 610 and can include computer codefor executing (e.g., by processor 612) one or more processes describedherein.

Memory 614 is shown to include a network controller 616, an emergencyidentifier 618, a HVAC controller 626, a directions controller 628, adirection selector 648, an occupancy controller 638, an audio controller640, and user interface controller 642. Each of these components isdescribed in greater detail below.

Network controller 616 may contain instructions to communicate with anetwork (e.g., network 404) and ad hoc to other devices (e.g., displaydevice 416, display device 418, user device 412, etc.). In someembodiments, network controller 618 contains instructions to communicateover wireless and wired communication methods. In some embodiments,wireless communication methods are communicating in a Wi-Fi network, aZigbee network, and/or a Bluetooth network via communications interface602. In some embodiments, the communication methods are wired such asvia RS-485, Ethernet (e.g., CATS, CAT5e, etc.), and/or any other wiredcommunication method. Network controller 616 may be configured tofacilitate communication a local area network or a wide area network(e.g., the Internet, a building WAN, etc.) and may be configured to usea variety of communications protocols (e.g., BACnet, IP, LON, etc.). Insome embodiments, network controller 618 facilitates ad hoccommunication. The ad hoc communication may be at least one of (ad hocWi-Fi, ad hoc Zigbee, ad hoc Bluetooth, NFC etc.). In some embodiments,network controller 618 facilitates communication over an ad hoc network(e.g., MANET, a VANET, a SPAN, an IMANET, and any other ad hoc network).

Emergency identifier 618 can be configured to determine whether anemergency is occurring. The emergency can be an emergency inside thebuilding (e.g., a fire, a dangerous person, a critical fault oroperating condition in the BMS, etc.) or an emergency outside thebuilding (e.g., a tornado, dangerous weather conditions, etc.). In someembodiments, emergency identifier 618 is configured to determineemergency alerts based on information received from network controller616. Emergency identifier 618 may include emergency sensor controller620, weather server controller 622, and BMS emergency controller 624.Emergency sensor controller 620 may be configured to communicate withbuilding emergency sensor(s) 406 described with reference to FIGS. 4-5via network controller 616 and communications interface 602. In someembodiments, emergency sensor controller 620 can send commands tobuilding emergency sensor(s) 406. In some embodiments, the commands areto activate actuators, deactivate actuators, gather sensor data, etc.and are sent to emergency sensor(s) 406 and/or emergency sensorcontroller 620.

Emergency sensor controller 620 may receive sensor data from buildingemergency sensor(s) 406 via network controller 616 and communicationsinterface 602. Emergency sensor controller 620 may be configured toanalyze the sensor data and determine if an emergency is present.Emergency sensor controller 620 may determine the nature and/or locationof the emergency based on the analysis of the sensor data. The nature ofthe emergency may be an earthquake, a fire, a gas leak, etc. Emergencysensor controller 620 may be configured to determine and/or retrieveapplicable directions for the determined emergency. In some embodiments,emergency sensor controller 620 determines that an emergency isoccurring when the sensor data is above and/or below a predefinedthreshold. For example, if emergency sensor controller 620 determinesthat sensor data/information indicates that carbon monoxide levels crossa predefined threshold, the air is dangerous to breath and the buildingshould be evacuated.

In some embodiments, building emergency sensor(s) 406 are configured todetermine the nature of the emergency. Emergency sensor controller 620may be configured to receive the nature of the emergency from buildingemergency sensor(s) 406 via network controller 616 and communicationsinterface 602. Emergency sensor controller 620 can be configured togenerate emergency directions based on the emergency. In someembodiments, the emergency directions are to evacuate a building, hideunder tables and/or desks, close windows, and any other directionrelevant to an emergency situation. Emergency sensor controller 620 maysend the determined emergency directions to direction selector 644.

In some embodiments, the building emergency sensor(s) 406 are configuredto identify a location of an emergency in the building (e.g., a locationof a fire, a location of an active shooter) and the emergency sensorcontroller 620 is configured to receive the location of the emergencyfrom the building emergency sensor(s) 406 via network controller 616 andcommunications interface 602. In such embodiments, the emergency sensorcontroller 620 can be configured to generate emergency directions basedon the location of the emergency, for example to direct a user away fromthe emergency (e.g., away from a fire, away from an active shooter,along an evacuation route that avoids a dangerous area). The emergencydirections may update dynamically as the emergency moves through abuilding, e.g., as the emergency sensor(s) 406 detect the emergency(e.g., a fire, a gunshot) in changing locations in the building.

In some embodiments, the existence, nature, and/or location of anemergency may be determined based at least in part on live data receivedfrom the user device 412 and/or other web-based live data streams (e.g.,social media). For example, the emergency identifier 618 may receive anindication of a call or message transmitted from the user device 412 toan emergency response system. As another example, the emergencyidentifier 618 may receive social media posts that indicate that anemergency event is occurring. The emergency identifier 618 may use thislive data to identify an ongoing emergency and/or determine the natureand/or location of the emergency.

Weather server controller 622 may be configured to communicate withweather server(s) 408 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-5. Weatherserver controller 622 may be configured to query weather server(s) 408for weather information and/or weather related emergency information. Insome embodiments, weather server controller 622 is configured todetermine emergency directions based on the information received fromweather server(s) 408. The emergency directions may be sent to directionselector 644. In some embodiments, the directions are evacuate abuilding, hide under tables and/or desks, close windows, and any otherdirection relevant to an emergency situation.

BMS emergency controller 624 may be configured to communicate withbuilding management system 410 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-5.In some embodiments, BMS emergency controller 624 may be configured toreceive emergency information from building management system 410. Insome embodiments, the information received is weather relatedemergencies, active shooter emergencies, unsafe building emergencies,and any other emergency information received from building managementsystem 410. In some embodiments, BMS emergency controller 624 isconfigured to send the emergency information received form buildingmanagement system 410 to direction selector 644.

In some embodiments, building management system 410 may include one ormore databases which store building maps, room and meeting schedules,and/or any other information regarding a building (e.g., building 10).In some embodiments, BMS emergency controller 624 is configured torequest the building information from building management system 410 andsend the building related information to directions controller 628.

Still referring to FIG. 6, HVAC controller 626 may communicate with thebuilding management system 410 via network controller 616,communications interface 602, and network 404 as described with furtherreference to FIGS. 4-5. HVAC controller 626 may be configured to receivetemperature setpoints and humidity setpoints via user interface 608. Insome embodiments, HVAC controller 626 provides a control signal tobuilding management system 410 via network controller 616 and/orcommunications interface 602. The control signal may cause the buildingmanagement system 410 to condition and/or heat a zone and/or building toa setpoint temperature. Further, the control signals may cause buildingmanagement system 410 to achieve a humidity value in a building and/orzone based on a humidity setpoint.

HVAC controller 626 may use any of a variety of control algorithms(e.g., state-based algorithms, extremum-seeking control algorithms, PIDcontrol algorithms, model predictive control algorithms, feedbackcontrol algorithms, etc.) to determine appropriate control actions forany HVAC equipment connected to building management system 410 as afunction of temperature and/or humidity. For example, if the temperatureis above a temperature set point received from touch screen 202 viasingle-touch controller 430 and/or multi-touch controller 432, controloutput module 124 may determine that a cooling coil and/or a fan shouldbe activated to decrease the temperature of an supply air delivered to abuilding zone. Similarly, if the temperature is below the temperatureset point, HVAC controller 626 may determine that a heating coil and/ora fan should be activated to increase the temperature of the supply airdelivered to the building zone. HVAC controller 626 may determine that ahumidification or dehumidification component of building managementsystem 410 should be activated or deactivated to control the ambientrelative humidity to a humidity set point for a building zone.

Directions controller 628 may be configured to determine directions foran occupant or a group of occupants of a building (e.g., building 10).In some embodiments, directions controller 628 includes an opportunisticcontroller 630, a user based direction controller 632, a special needscontroller 634, and a direction request controller 636. Opportunisticcontroller 630 may be configured to generate and/or determine buildingevent directions and/or messages based on information received from thebuilding management system 410. In some embodiments, opportunisticcontroller 630 is configured to receive building event information frombuilding management system 410 and/or calendar application 414 of userdevice 412 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-5. In someembodiments, the event information may include an image to display onuser interface 608. The event information may include all events in abuilding at a specific time. Opportunistic controller 630 may beconfigured to determine if the location of the event is nearby thelocation of display device 402. In some embodiments, only events thatare nearby the location of the display device 402 are determined to bedisplayed on user interface 608.

In some embodiments, opportunistic controller 630 analyzes calendarinformation from one or more mobile devices (e.g., user device 412)received via network controller 616 and communications interface 602.Based on the calendar information, display device 402 may learn whatevents are occurring in the building. Opportunistic controller 630 maybe configured to generate an event image (e.g., various combinations oflogos, admission fees, locations, start and end times, etc.) relating tothe event and may determine proper audio notifications to be servedalong with the generated event image.

User-based direction controller 632 may be configured to generatenavigation directions for an occupant. In some embodiments, user baseddirection controller 632 may be configured to receive the identity of anoccupant from occupancy controller 638. The identity may be the identityof an occupant a predetermined distance from display device 402. In someembodiments, the user based direction controller 632 may be configuredto query the building automation system 410 via network controller 616and communications interface 602 for information associated with theidentified occupant. In some embodiments, building automation system 410may reply with the name of the occupant, the schedule of the occupant,any meetings and/or events that the occupant is a participant (e.g.,optional participant, required participant, etc.), and may also replywith any special needs of the occupant, such as wheel chair accessibledirections. User based direction controller 632 may be configured togenerate directions to any locations which the identified occupant maybe scheduled to be. In some embodiments, user based direction controller632 may be configured to communicate with a calendar application (e.g.,calendar application 414) via ad hoc and/or network communications witha user device (e.g., user device 412) to determine the schedule of abuilding occupant. In some embodiments, user based direction controller632 may be configured to generate arrows, building maps, audiodirections, and any other form of directions. User based directioncontroller 632 may be configured to send the directions to directionselector 644.

Special needs controller 634 may determine if the occupant identified byuser based direction controller 632 has any special needs. For example,special needs controller 634 may be configured to communicate withbuilding management system 410 and receive any information relating toany physical and/or mental disabilities associated with the identifieduser. The disabilities may be that the identified occupant is deaf,mute, blind, in a wheelchair, on crutches, etc. In some embodiments,special needs controller 634 may determine building directions based onthe disability of the occupant. For example, if the identified occupantis in a wheel chair, the special needs controller 634 may generatedirections to a location that circumnavigates any stairs. If theidentified occupant is determined to be deaf, the special needscontroller 634 may be configured to generate audio directions only andnot visual directions. In some embodiments, the audio direction are aseries of turns (e.g., “go forward to end of hall turn right, go forwardto end of hall turn left,” etc.)

Direction request controller 636 may be configured to receive directionrequests from user interface 608. Direction request controller maycommunicate with user interface controller 642 and may receive thedirection request form user interface controller 642. In someembodiments, direction request controller 636 is configured to displaydirections to a requested location in response to a building occupantrequesting directions via user interface 608. The requested location caninclude, for example, a conference room, a meeting room, an office, etc.In some embodiments, direction request controller 636 may be configuredto display a map showing where the user is, where the destination is,the shortest route to the destination, etc. In some embodiments,direction request controller 636 is configured to generate textdirections indicating which turns to make in order to navigate to thedestination. Further, direction request controller 636 may be configuredto generate audio messages to be played along with the visualdirections.

In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638 may be configured todetermine the identity of an occupant based on information received fromoccupancy sensor 604. The identity of the occupant may be provided touser based direction controller 632. In some embodiments, the occupancycontroller 638 receives sensor input from occupancy sensor 604 where thesensor may be a camera. Occupancy controller 638 can perform digitalimage processing to identify the one or more users based on the digitalimages received from the camera. In some embodiments, digital imageprocessing is used to identify the faces of the one or more users, theheight of the one or more users, or any other physical characteristic ofthe one or more users. In some embodiments, the digital image processingis performed by image analysis tools such as edge detectors and neuralnetworks. In some embodiments, the digital image processing compares thephysical characteristics of the one or more users with physicalcharacteristics of previously identified users.

In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638 receives sensor input froma microphone. The microphone can be any of a plurality of microphonetypes. The microphone types include, for example, a dynamic microphone,a ribbon microphone, a carbon microphone, a piezoelectric microphone, afiber optic microphone, a laser microphone, a liquid microphone, and anaudio speaker used as a microphone. In some embodiments, the occupancycontroller analyzes the audio data received from the microphone. In someembodiments, occupancy controller 638 identifies one or more users basedon voice biometrics of the audio received from the microphone. Voicebiometrics are the unique characteristics of a speaker's voice. Voicebiometrics include voice pitch or speaking style that result from theanatomy of the speaker's throat and/or mouth. In some embodiments, thevoice biometrics of linked users is stored on display device 402 inoccupancy controller 638. In some embodiments, the voice biometrics arestored on building management system 410 and must be retrieved byoccupancy controller 638. In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638uses a text dependent voice recognition technique. In some embodiments,occupancy controller 638 uses a text independent voice recognitiontechnique to identify the one or more users.

In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638 uses the text dependentvoice recognition technique to identify the one or more users based on apassword or particular phrase spoken by one of the users. For example,the user may speak a phrase such as “This is Felix, I am home.”Occupancy controller 638 can perform speech recognition to determine thespoken phrase “This is Felix, I am home” from the audio data receivedform the microphone. In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638 usesone or a combination of a hidden Markov models, dynamic time warping,neural networks to determine the spoken phrase, etc. Occupancycontroller 638 compares the determined spoken phrase to phrases linkedto users. If the phrase, “This is Felix, I am home” matches a phraselinked to a user Felix, occupancy controller 638 can identify the useras Felix. In some embodiments, the linked phrases are stored onoccupancy controller 638. In various embodiments, the linked phrases arestored on building management system 410.

In some embodiments, occupancy controller 638 is configured to captureaudio data from one or more users and perform pre-processing. In someembodiments pre-processing may be compressing the audio data, convertingthe audio data into an appropriate format, and any other pre-processingaction necessary. Occupancy controller 638 may be configured to transmitthe captured spoken audio data to a voice recognition server viacommunications interface 602 and network 404 as described with referenceto FIGS. 4-5. The voice recognition server may be configured todetermine the identity of the occupant and transmit the identity of theoccupant to occupancy controller 638.

Audio controller 640 may be configured to receive audio directions fromdirection selector 644. Audio controller 640 may generate an analogsignal for speaker 606 based on a digital audio signal from directionselector 644. In some embodiments, audio controller 640 may beconfigured to convert a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal(i.e., digital to audio conversion (DAC)). In some embodiments, audiocontroller 640 may contain a text to speech application programinterface (API) that is configured to generate spoken words based on thereceived navigation direction. In some embodiments, the text to speechAPI is one or a combination of Watson Text to Speech, Cortana text tospeech, an open source text to speech API, a proprietary text to speechAPI, and/or any other text to speech API.

User interface controller 642 may be configured to display images onuser interface 608. The images can include, for example, maps, text,arrows, and/or any other image used to display direction to an occupantof a building. In some embodiments, user interface controller 642 isconfigured to receive input from use interface 608. The input may berotating a map, zooming in on a map, typing in a conference roomnavigation request, and any other input that can be received from userinterface 608. In some embodiments, user interface controller 642receives images to display from direction selector 644. In someembodiments, user interface controller 642 sends direction requests todirection request controller 636.

Direction selector 644 may be configured to receive directions fromdirection controller 628. Direction selector 644 may be configured toreceive emergency directions from emergency identifier 618. In someembodiments, direction prioritization selector 646 is configured toreceive the directions for directions controller 628. Direction selector644 may be configured to prioritize the directions received fromdirections controller 628 and the emergency directions received fromemergency identifier 618. Direction prioritization selector 646 may beconfigured to rank each direction request in order of highest priority.In some embodiments, directions requested via user interface 608 mayhave the highest priority over opportunistic directions and/or directiondetermined based on information from occupancy sensor 604. The rankingsystem may contain a queue which directions may be placed. The length oftime which a direction is in the queue may factor into determining thepriority for that direction. For example, a conference advertisement maybe received from opportunistic controller 630 and may be placed into adisplay queue. The longer the advertisement sits in the queue, thehigher the priority level for the advertisement may grow. When thepriority level crosses a predefined level, the advertisement may bedisplayed and the priority level reset. In some embodiments, thepriority of a direction may determine the period of time that thedirection is displayed on user interface 608.

In some embodiments, direction prioritization selector 646 may providethe highest priority direction to emergency prioritization selector 648.Emergency prioritization selector may provide the directions receivedfrom direction prioritization selector 646 to user interface controller642 if no emergency is present. If an emergency is present, emergencyprioritization selector may provide the emergency directions to userinterface controller 642 instead of the directions from directionprioritization selector 646. In some embodiments, emergency directionsfor multiple emergencies (e.g., floods, tornados, storms, earthquakes,etc.) may be ranked base on order of priority. For example, if emergencyprioritization selector 648 receives a notification from emergencyidentifier 618 that there is an active shooter in the building (e.g.,building 10) and a notification that there is a flooding, emergencyprioritization selector 648 may rank the active shooter directions ashigher priority, and may show these directions exclusively and/or forlonger periods of time. In some embodiments, the highest priorityemergency direction is the direction that is most likely to cause harmto occupants of the building.

In various embodiments, emergency prioritization selector 648 maycombine emergency directions when occupants of the building must respondto multiple emergencies simultaneously. For example, if there is a fireand a tornado, the emergency prioritization selector 648 may combinefire response directions with tornado response directions. Emergencyprioritization selector 648 may create emergency messages which telloccupants of the building to go to a certain exit. The route to the exitmay bypass rooms and/or hallways with large windows. Emergencyprioritization selector 648 may be able to combine any amount or type ofemergency directions.

Referring now to FIG. 7, display device 700 is shown as an alternateembodiment of display device 402. Some components of display device 700are the same as display device 402 as described with reference to FIGS.4-6. These components include, communications interface 602, occupancysensor 604, speaker 606, user interface 608, processing circuit 610,processor 612, memory 614, network controller 616, emergency identifier618, emergency sensor controller 620, weather server controller 622, BMSemergency controller 624, HVAC controller 626, occupancy controller 638,audio controller 640, user interface controller 642, direction selector644, direction prioritization selector 646, and emergency prioritizationselector 648. Display device 700 is shown to further include directionhandoff controller 702. In some embodiments, display device 700 has someor all of the functionality of display device 402. Direction handoffcontroller 702 is shown to include building map controller 704, userbased handoff controller 706, direction request handoff controller 708,and display device location controller 710. Display device 700 may beconfigured to determine navigation direction and emergency directions asdescribed with reference to display device 402.

In addition to determining navigation directions, emergency directions,and prioritizing directions, display device 700 may be configured tocommunicate with other display devices (e.g., display device 416,display device 418, etc.) and pass directions to other display devices.In some embodiments, display device 700 passes direction to otherdisplay devices that are on the route of a navigation path. In someembodiments, the direction handoff is performed via network 404 asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 4-5. In various embodiments, thedirection handoff is performed ad hoc (e.g., by sending the directionsdirectly from display device to display device).

Building map controller 704 may be configured to maintain and/or store abuilding map. The building map may include multiple floors, multiplecampuses, etc. Building map controller 704 may receive updates frombuilding management system 410 via network 404. In some embodiments,building map controller 704 may be configured to receive a map whenfirst installed in the building. In some embodiments, building mapcontroller 704 contains the locations of all other display devices inthe building. In some embodiments, building map controller 704 isconfigured to receive map updates from building management system 410.In various embodiments, building map controller 704 may receive noticesfrom building management system 410 that a hallway and/or exit may beclosed and/or blocked. In some embodiments, a hallway and/or exit may beblocked based on an emergency (e.g., a certain hallway is on fire and isnot transmissible by an occupant. In various embodiments, a hallwayand/or exit may be blocked when there are building renovations and/orrepairs being done in the building.

User based handoff controller 706 may have all of the functionality ofuser based direction controller 632 and special needs controller 634. Inaddition to this functionality, user based handoff controller 706 may beconfigured to generate a message to send to other devices along thedetermined path and/or route. The other devices may be targeted based ontheir location along the route. Further, the time at which the userbased handoff controller 706 causes the message to be sent may be basedon an anticipated and/or determined walking speed of a user. Forexample, the message to display the directions for a user may bedisplayed when it is anticipated that the user will be passing the nextdisplay device based on an anticipated and/or determined walking speed.User based handoff controller 706 may cause network controller 616 andcommunications interface 602 to send the message to other targeteddisplay devices.

Display device location controller 708 may be configured to maintain thelocation of the display device 700. In some embodiments, display devicelocation controller 708 may perform an initial configuration routine inwhich the display device may prompt an installer with a building map andrequest that the installer identify the location of the display device700. In some embodiments, a password may be entered via user interface608 allowing an authorized individual to change the location of thedisplay device 700. In various embodiments, display device locationcontroller 708 may be configured to periodically prompt users to confirmthe location of the display device 700. In various embodiments, displaydevice location controller 708 may prompt the user by asking the user ifthe directions it is displaying are correct or incorrect. If the userindicates via user interface 608 that the direction displayed by displaydevice location controller 708 are incorrect, display device locationcontroller 708 may be configured to cause a message to be sent tobuilding management system 410. Building management system 410 maynotify a building technician that the location of display device 700needs to be correct and/or updated.

Direction request handoff controller 710 may contain some or all of thefunctionality of direction request controller 636. In addition to thisfunctionality, direction request handoff controller 710 may beconfigured to generate a message to send to other devices along thedetermined path and/or route. The other devices may be targeted based ontheir location along the route. Further, the time at which directionrequest handoff controller 710 causes the message to be sent may bebased on an anticipated and/or determined walking speed of a user. Forexample, the message to display the directions for a user may bedisplayed when it is anticipated that the user will be passing the nextdisplay device based on an anticipated and/or determined walking speed.Direction request handoff controller 710 may cause network controller616 and communications interface 602 to send the message to othertargeted display devices.

Referring now to FIG. 8, display device 800 is shown as an alternateembodiment of display device 402. In some embodiments display device 800has some and/or all of the functionality of display device 402. Variouscomponents of display device 800 shown are the same as in display device402 as described with reference to FIGS. 4-6. The components includecommunications interface 602, speaker 606, user interface 608,processing circuit 610, processor 612, memory 614, network controller616, HVAC controller 626, emergency identifier 618, emergency sensorcontroller 620, weather server controller 622, BMS emergency controller624, audio controller 640, and user interface controller 642. Displaydevice 800 may be configured to be removed from a wall (e.g., a wallmount) in the event of an emergency. In some embodiments, display device800 is configured to be torn off the wall. In various embodiments,display device 800 unhooks from a wall mount so that it can be easilyremoved. Display device 800 may provide navigation directions forevacuating a building in case of a fire, an active shooter, etc. Displaydevice 800 is shown to include battery controller circuit 802, battery804, and GPS 806. Memory 614 is shown to include mobile display devicecontroller 808.

Battery controller circuit 802 is configured to charge and/or dischargebattery 804. Battery controller circuit 802 may receive AC power and/orDC power. Battery controller circuit 802 may include a rectifier circuitconfigured to convert the AC power into DC power. In some embodiments,the rectifier is a full wave rectifier, a half wave rectifier, a fullbridge rectifier, and any other type of rectifier. In some embodiments,the rectified wave is filtered to smooth out any voltage ripple presentafter the wave is rectified. Battery controller circuit 802 may beconfigured to configured to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT)when charging the battery if the power source is a solar cell and/orsolar panel. In some embodiments, battery controller circuit 802includes circuits configured to perform slow charging (i.e. tricklecharging) and/or fast charging. In some embodiments, the temperature ofthe battery 804 is monitored while fast charging is performed so thatthe battery 804 does not become damaged.

In some embodiments, the battery 804 stores charge which can be releasedto power display device 800. In some embodiments, battery controllercircuit 802 begins discharging battery 804 when battery controllercircuit detects that a wired power source of the display device 800 isremoved (i.e. display device 800 is removed from the wall). Battery 804may be any type or combination of batteries. In some embodiments, thebattery is a nickel cadmium (Ni—Cd) battery and/or a nickel-metalhydride (Ni-MH) battery. In various embodiments, the battery is alithium ion battery and/or a lithium polymer battery.

GPS 806 may be configured to determine the location of the displaydevice 800. In some embodiments, GPS 806 determines the coordinates ofdisplay device 800. GPS 806 may send the coordinates of display device800 to GPS controller 810. In some embodiments, GPS controller 810 logsand tracks the location of display device 800. In some embodiments, GPScontroller 810 is configured to determine what direction display device800 is moving by analyzing a plurality of GPS coordinate readings.Building map controller 812 may contain some of all of the functionalityof building map controller 704 as described with reference to FIG. 7.Building map controller 812 may be configured to provide a map of thebuilding that display device 800 is located in to mobile directionscontroller 816.

In some embodiments, mobile directions controller 816 generates audiodirections and visual directions for display device 800. Mobiledirections controller 816 may be configured to provide audio directionsto audio controller 640 as described with reference to FIGS. 6-7. Invarious embodiments, mobile directions controller 816 may be configureto provide visual direction to user interface controller 642 asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 6-7. Mobile direction controller 816may be configured to generate a display for user interface 608. In someembodiments, the display may be a map displaying the location of displaydevice 800 and a trace leading to the nearest exit.

In some embodiments, mobile directions controller 816 may be configuredto determine directions based on the nature of the emergency determinedby emergency identifier 618. For example, if there is a fire in thebuilding, the mobile directions controller 816 may navigate the userholding the display device 800 to the nearest accessible exit. If theemergency is an active shooter in the building, the display device maydirect the user holding display device 800 to an exit and/or maynavigate the user holding display device 800 to a room that can belocked and/or easily barricaded.

In some embodiments, audio controller 640 is configured to use soundnavigation when appropriate. For example, if there is an active shooterin the building, audio controller 640 may be configured to be silent sothat the shooter is not alerted of the location of the user holdingdisplay device 800. In some embodiments, if there is a fire, smoke maybe thick enough and/or impair the vision of the user holding displaydevice 800. Audio controller 640 may be configured to play audiodirecting the user holding display device 800 to an exit without needingthe user to be able to see user interface 608.

Flow Diagrams

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram of process 900 for prioritizingdirections for a display device is shown, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In some embodiments, process 700 is performed by displaydevice 402, as described with reference to FIGS. 4-6. In step 902,display device 402 receives emergency notifications from a BMS (e.g.,building management system 410.) In some embodiments, the emergencynotification is a weather related notification (winter storm watch,flooding, tornado warning, tornado watch, etc.). In some embodiments,the emergency notification is related to a building emergency (e.g., anactive shooter in the building, unsafe water in the building,structurally unsafe areas of the building, etc.)

In step 904, display device 402 receives weather related emergencynotifications from weather servers (e.g., weather server(s) 408.) Thealert may be a winter storm watch, a flooding warning, a tornadowarning, a tornado watch, etc. In step 906, display device 402 mayreceive and/or query emergency sensors (e.g., building emergencysensor(s) 406) for data indicating a building emergency. In someembodiments, the emergency sensors are configured to determine thenature of the emergency and provide an emergency notification directlyto the display device 402. In some embodiments, the emergencynotification is one or a combination of a fire, a gas leak, unsafecarbon monoxide levels, etc. At step 906, the display device 402 mayalso access social media server(s) 411 to receive and/or monitor dataindicating or relating to a building emergency.

The display device 402 may thereby receive one or more data streams thatinclude multiple messages indicating one or more emergencies relating tothe building. The data streams may include a weather data streamindicating weather conditions associated with the building (i.e., asreceived from weather server(s) 408), a social media data streamindicating social media postings, comments, messages and/or otheractivity (i.e., as received from the social media server(s) 411, a newsdata stream indicating one or more events associated with the building(e.g., as received from the social media server(s) 411, the calendarapplication 414, the user device 412, the BMS 410, etc.), and/or otherrelevant data streams.

In step 908, a decision is made by display device 402 based on thepresence or absence of any emergencies. That is, based on the one ormore data streams received in steps 902-906, the display device 402 maydetermine an existence of an emergency and/or a nature or type of theemergency. If display device 402 does not determine that there is abuilding and/or weather related emergency in step 902, step 904, andstep 906, the display device 908 may perform 916 and displaynon-emergency related directions. If display device 402 determines thatthere is a building and/or weather related emergency in step 902, step904 and/or step 906 display device 402 may prioritize the emergencydirections 910 and display emergency related directions.

In step 910, display device 402 may prioritize all the emergenciesdetermined in step 902, step 904, and/or step 906. Display device 402may determine the priority of emergencies based on emergency severityand/or immediate impact to occupants of a building. For example, awinter storm warning may have a lower priority than an active shooter.

In step 912, display device 402 may display the emergency directions. Insome embodiments, the emergency directions are actions (e.g., emergencyresponse directions) to take in lieu of the building and/or weatherrelated emergency. For example, if there is a tornado, the directionsmay be to hide under desks and/or tables. If there is a fire, thedisplay device 402 may display evacuation directions and/or a route tothe nearest exit. If there are multiple emergencies present, the displaydevice 402 may cycle emergencies and/or choose the most importantemergency to display. In some embodiments, display device 402 generatescustom directions to accommodate the proper actions to take when thereare multiple emergencies. For example, if there is a fire and an activeshooter present in a building, display device 402 may turn off all soundon display device 402 and display a message to the individual to keepsilent. The display device 402 may then precede to direct buildingoccupants to the nearest exits.

In step 914, the display device 402 may generate audible alarms. In someembodiments, the audible alarm may be a loudspeaker message disclosingwhat the emergency is and/or the proper actions to take in lieu of theemergency. In some embodiments, the audible directions are directions tothe nearest exit. The directions may be “Turn left at the end of hallwayand proceed to exit” and/or any other message indicating the properdirections that a user should take to evacuate the building.

If display device 402 determines that no emergencies are present in step908, the display device may perform step 916. In step 916, displaydevice 402 receive user direction request via a user interface. In someembodiments, a user may input a specific conference room, meeting room,and/or office.

In step 918, display device 402 may identify an occupant based ondigital video processing from a camera, digital audio processing from amicrophone, and/or any other processing of occupancy sensors that can beused to identify a user. In some embodiments, display device 402 storesfeatures of users that can be matched by using digital video processingand/or digital audio processing. In some embodiments, display device 402sends a query with identified physical features of a user to a buildingmanagement system (e.g., building management system 410). The buildingmanagement system may return the identity of the user. In someembodiments, the building management system may return a scheduleindicating locations and times of meetings which the user may berequired to attend, or which may be of interest to the user. In someembodiments, display device 402 generates navigation direction based onthe identity of the user and/or based on the schedule received from thebuilding management system.

In step 920, display device 402 may generate directionsopportunistically. In some embodiments, directions may be based onevents occurring in the building. In some embodiments, display devicecommunicates with a building management system (e.g., buildingmanagement system 410) and/or a building scheduler system. In someembodiments, display device 402 generates opportunistic directions basedon the location of display device 402 in the building and/or the eventsoccurring in the building. In some embodiments, display device 402communicates with the scheduling applications of mobile devices of usersin the building and/or passing by display device 402. In someembodiments, display device 402 determines what events are occurring inthe building and their nature (e.g., public, private, etc.). In someembodiments, display device 402 generates directions opportunisticallybased on the schedules of mobile devices in the building.

In some embodiments, display device 402 prioritizes the directionsdetermined in steps 916-920 (step 922). The directions can be ranked inorder of highest priority. In some embodiments, requested directions(step 916) may have the highest priority over opportunistic directions(step 920) and/or direction determined based on information from anoccupancy sensor (step 918). The ranking system may contain a queuewhich directions may be placed. The length of time which a direction isin the queue may factor into determining the priority for thatdirection. For example, if a conference advertisement is received from abuilding management system, the priority for displaying thisadvertisement may be low. In some embodiments, the priority of adirection may determine how long the direction is displayed on a userinterface of display device 402. The highest priority direction may bedisplayed on a user interface of display device 402.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a flow diagram of process 1000 for handing offdirections between display devices is shown, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In some embodiments, process 1000 is performed by displaydevice 700, as described with reference to FIG. 7. Process 1000 mayinclude some or all of the steps of process 900 as described withreference to FIG. 9. In step 908, display device 700 determines if thereis an emergency present in the building in which display device 700 islocated. If there is an emergency, steps 910, 912, and 914 are performedas described with reference to FIG. 9.

In step 1002, display device 700 sends emergency directions to otherdisplay devices located in the building. In some embodiments, displaydevice 700 determines where other display devices are located in thebuilding with a display device location controller (e.g., display devicelocation controller 708). In some embodiments, display device 700 sendsthe emergency directions to other devices located in the building via adhoc communication (e.g., ad hoc Wi-Fi, ad hoc Zigbee, ad hoc Bluetooth,NFC etc.). In some embodiments, display device 700 is configured tocommunicate ad hoc to the other display devices. In various embodiments,display device 700 may be configured to transmit the emergencydirections to the other display devices via network 404 as describedwith reference to FIG. 4. In some embodiments, network 404 may connectdisplay devices on multiple floors, multiple zones, multiple buildings,and multiple campuses. In some embodiments display device 700 may sendemergency directions to display devices located on a different floorthan the display device 700, a different zone than the display device700, a different building than the display device 700, and a differentcampus than the display device 700.

In step 908, if no emergency is present, display device 700 may receivedirection requests from user interface (step 1004). In some embodiments,display device 700 may be configured to allow users to enterdestinations via a touch screen user interface. In some embodiments, thedestination is a conference room, a meeting room, and/or an office.Display device 700 may be configured to display an arrow, a map, turn byturn directions, and/or generate audio directions. Display device 700may determine other display devices along the route to the destination(step 1008) and may send display directions to these devices ad hocand/or over network 404 (step 1010).

In step 1006, display device 700 may determine directions for anoccupant based on the identity of the occupant. In some embodiments,display device 700 uses at least one of a camera and/or a microphone todetermine the identity of an occupant. An occupancy controller (e.g.,occupancy controller 638) may be configured to identify occupants basedon data received from occupancy sensors (e.g., cameras, microphones,etc.). Display device 700 may be connected to a network (e.g., network404) and may be able to retrieve meeting information associated with theidentified user. Display device 700 may be configured to displaydirections (arrows, turn by turn directions, maps, etc.) based on anydestinations that are indicated by the identified user's meetingschedule. In some embodiments, display device 700 is configured todetermine other display devices along the route to the destination (step1008) and may send display directions to these devices ad hoc and/orover network 404 (step 1010).

Referring now to FIG. 11, a flow diagram of process 1100 for removing adisplay device from a wall and using it as a map in an emergencysituation, according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments,process 1100 is performed by display device 800, as described withreference to FIG. 8. In step 1102, display device 800 determines ifthere is an emergency present in the building in which display device800 is located. In step 1106, display device 800 determines if there isa building emergency as determined by steps 902, 904, and 906, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 9. If there is no building and/orweather related emergency, display device 800 may resume normaloperation (e.g., 1104). In some embodiments, normal operation isreceiving environmental setpoints via user interface 608 and regulatingenvironmental conditions of zones and/or a building (e.g., building 10)with HVAC controller 626. In some embodiments, normal operation iswaiting for an emergency message to be received such as in steps 902,904, and 906 as described with reference to FIG. 9.

In some embodiments, if an emergency is determined in at least one ofsteps 902, 904, and 906 as described with reference to FIG. 9, displaydevice 800 displays emergency situation directions (step 1106). In someembodiments, the emergency situation directions are evacuationdirections, phone numbers to call, an appropriate course of action totake, etc. In step 1108, display device 800 may generate an alarm. Insome embodiments, the alarm is a siren, a building-wide message, and/orany other audible alarm.

In step 1110, display device 800 may prompt a user to remove displaydevice 800 from the wall. In some embodiments, user interface 608intermittently periodically displays a message “Remove From Wall ForEvacuation” for a predefined duration of time. In some embodiments, theuser may press a button on user interface 608 which confirms that theuser has removed the device from the wall. In some embodiments, displaydevice 800 may use GPS 806 and GPS controller 810 to determine thatdisplay device 800 has is changing location and has been removed fromits original location. In some embodiments, display device 800 has asensor such as a switch which detects that the device has been removedfrom the wall.

In step 1112, display device 800 may determine its current location withGPS 806. In some embodiments, GPS controller 810 may communicate withGPS 806 to determine coordinates of display device 800. In someembodiments, the coordinates are a latitude, a longitude, and analtitude. Display device 800 may be configured to use the coordinates todetermine the location of the display device 800 and the user who hasremoved display device 800 from the wall in the building. In someembodiments, display device 800 uses GPS controller 810 to poll GPS 806for coordinates periodically. In some embodiments, GPS controller 810receives a new coordinate when one of the coordinates (i.e., altitude,longitude, and latitude) has changed more than a predefined amount.

In step 1114, the display device may use building map controller 812 andmobile directions controller 816 to determine a route to an evacuationpoint and/or a safe zone with the GPS coordinates of GPS controller 810.In some embodiments, user interface controller 642 may display thelocation of the user on user interface 608 and a map with a routeindicating the necessary directions to take to reach the evacuationpoint and/or safe zone.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a drawing 1200 of an emergency display fordisplay device 402 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Insome embodiments, display device 402 is configured to display emergencydirections on user interface 608. Emergency directions 1202 display textbased directions for exiting a building. In some embodiments, thedirections may be map based. Map based directions may allow anindividual to see their current location on a map and a route to thenearest exit, evacuation zone, and/or safe zone. Audio 1204 may bebroadcast by display device 402 to accompany the visual emergencymessage. In some embodiments audio 1204 is broadcast via speaker 606.The emergency audio, audio 1204, may give audible directions tooccupants of the building to evacuate. In some embodiments, audio 1204may give occupants of the buildings evacuation directions and/ordirections to a safe zone.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a drawing 1300 of an opportunistic display fordisplay device 402 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Insome embodiments, the opportunistic message may be a message generatedand/or determined by opportunistic controller 630 as described withreference to FIGS. 6-8. In some embodiments, display device 402 isconfigured to display opportunistic messages and opportunisticdirections on user interface 608. Opportunistic message 1302 displaysadvertises a building event and display directions to said buildingevent. The advertisement may include a logo, the location of an event, acost of an event, and/or any other information that could be used in theadvertisement. Audio 1304 may be broadcast by display device 402 toaccompany the opportunistic message. In some embodiments audio 1204 isbroadcast via speaker 606. The opportunistic audio message, audio 1204,may give audible directions to occupants of the building to report tocertain rooms, floors, building, and/or any other location. In someembodiments, audio 1304 is music and/or any other audio based message orsound.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a drawing 1400 of a route notification fordisplay device 402 and/or display device 700 is shown, according to anexemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, display device 402 and/ordisplay device 700 is configured to display directions on user interface608. In some embodiments, the directions are for an identified and/ortracked occupant. Direction message 1402 may include the name of theoccupant being given directions. In some embodiments, direction message1402 includes a route destination (e.g., “West Conference room inBuilding 4, on Floor 4”). Further, directions may be given to theoccupant. The directions may be the appropriate turns to take to reach alocation (e.g., “follow hallway to end and make left turn”).

In some embodiments, audio 1404 may be broadcast by display device 402and/or display device 700 to accompany the direction message 1402. Insome embodiments audio 1404 is broadcast via speaker 606. The audio 1404may give audible directions to occupants of the building to report tocertain rooms, floors, building, and/or any other location. In someembodiments, audio 1404 is music and/or any other audio based message orsound. Audio 1404 may identify an occupant by name and/or handle beforeplaying directions for the occupant.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a drawing 1500 of an alternate routenotification for display device 402 and/or display device 700 is shown,according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, displaydevice 402 and/or display device 700 is configured to display alternateroute directions on user interface 608. In some embodiments, thedirections are for an identified and/or tracked occupant. In someembodiments, the identified and/or tracked occupant has a knowndisability. Alternate route message 1502 may give directions to anoccupant of an alternate route based on the disability of the occupant.For example, the route may direct an occupant to a wheelchair rampinstead of a staircase if the identified occupant has crutches, awheelchair, and/or any other disability prohibiting the occupant fromascending and/or descending stairs.

In some embodiments, audio 1504 may be broadcast by display device 402and/or display device 700 to accompany the alternate route message 1502.In some embodiments audio 1504 is broadcast via speaker 606. The audio1504 may give audible directions to occupants of alternate routes. Insome embodiments, the audio 1504 may direct an occupant to a wheelchairaccessible ramp. In some embodiments, audio 1504 is music and/or anyother audio based message or sound. Audio 1504 may identify an occupantby name and/or handle before playing directions for the alternate route.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a drawing 1600 of another alternate routenotification for display device 402 and/or display device 700 is shown,according to an exemplary embodiment. In the embodiment shown, displaydevice 402 (and/or display device 700 and/or display device 800) isconfigured to display an arrow 1602 that points in a direction that auser/occupant of the building should move to avoid an emergency. Moreparticularly, in the example shown, the arrow 1602 points away from alocation of an active shooter detected by the building emergencysensor(s) 406. In such an example, the display device 402 determines aroute based on a location of the active shooter and a building map orfloorplan to determine a safe direction for an occupant to travel. Thearrow 1602 thereby directs the occupant in a safe direction (e.g., awayfrom danger). In some embodiments, the arrow 1602 may be updated topoint in various directions in real time as the location of the activeshooter detected by the building emergency sensor(s) 406 changes. Thedisplay device 402 and/or display device 700 thereby facilitates a userin fleeing an active shooter.

More particularly, in the example of FIG. 16, the processing circuit 610of the display device 402 may receive, via the communications interface602, a first indication of a first location of a shooter from a shotdetection system. The shot detection system may be included with thebuilding emergency sensors 406 and may be configured to detect a gunshotin the building and determine a location of the gunshot in the building.The processing circuit 610 may determine and escape route, an evacuationroute, or other route to safety based on the first location of theshooter, the location of the display device 402, and the location of oneor more additional display devices (e.g., display device 416, displaydevice 418), and a floor plan of the building, A first navigationdirection may be displayed on the display device 410 (e.g., as shown inFIG. 16) to direct a user along a route that avoids the shooter withinthe building. A second navigation direction may be displayed on a seconddisplay device (e.g., display device 416, display device 418) to show auser a next step on the safe route to avoid the shooter.

In some cases, the shooter may move within the building. The shotdetection system 406 may detect a second location of a gunshot andprovide the second location to the display device 402. The displaydevice may then update the escape route and the associated navigationsdirections on the display device 402 and on the one or more additionaldisplay devices (e.g., display device 416, display device 418) to directthe user along an update route that avoids the second location. The usermay thereby be guided to safety along a route that avoids the activeshooter in the building. For example, with reference to FIG. 16, thearrow 1602 may be updated to point in a new direction (e.g., switchedfrom pointing right to pointing left) when the gunman is detected asrelocating to the right of the display device 402.

Configuration of Exemplary Embodiments

The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown inthe various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only afew embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may bereversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method stepsmay be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and programproducts on any machine-readable media for accomplishing variousoperations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implementedusing existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computerprocessor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or anotherpurpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure include program products comprising machine-readablemedia for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example,such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions ordata structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Wheninformation is transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combinationof hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views theconnection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection isproperly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above arealso included within the scope of machine-readable media.Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function orgroup of functions.

Although the figures show a specific order of method steps, the order ofthe steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps maybe performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variationwill depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designerchoice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standardprogramming techniques with rule based logic and other logic toaccomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparisonsteps and decision steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A first thermostat of a building, the firstthermostat comprising: a communications interface configured tocommunicate with at least one of a second thermostat or a networkserver; a user interface configured to display information to a user;and a processing circuit configured to: generate building navigationdirection data for user navigation through the building; cause the userinterface to display a first building navigation direction based on thegenerated building navigation direction data; and cause, via thecommunications interface, the second thermostat to display a secondbuilding navigation direction on a second display of the secondthermostat based on the generated building navigation direction data. 2.The first thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit isconfigured to cause, via the communications interface, the secondthermostat to display the second building navigation direction on thesecond display of the second thermostat by communicating with at leastone of the second thermostat or the network server via thecommunications interface.
 3. The first thermostat of claim 1, whereinthe first thermostat is mounted on a first wall of the building and thesecond thermostat is mounted on a second wall of the building, whereinthe first thermostat and the second thermostat are configured to controlenvironmental conditions of the building by generating control signalsfor controlling building equipment.
 4. The first thermostat of claim 1,wherein the processing circuit is configured to: receive, via thecommunication interface, a first indication of a first emergencyrelating to the building; and generate the building navigation databased on the first indication of the first emergency.
 5. The firstthermostat of claim 4, wherein the first building navigation directionand the second building navigation direction direct a user to follow anevacuation route, the first thermostat and the second thermostatpositioned along the evacuation route.
 6. The first thermostat of claim4, wherein the processing circuit is configured to: receive, via thecommunication interface, the first indication of the first emergencyfrom at least one of a wearable device of an occupant of the building ora hand held device of the occupant of the building, the first indicationindicating that the occupant is experiencing a health emergency andcomprising a location of the occupant in the building; and generate thebuilding navigation data based on the location of the occupant, alocation of the first thermostat, and a location of the secondthermostat; wherein the first building navigation direction and thesecond building navigation direction direct a caregiver towards thelocation of the occupant.
 7. The first thermostat of claim 4, whereinthe first indication of the first emergency comprises a first locationof an active shooter in the building as determined by a shot detectionsystem configured to detect a location of the active shooter within thebuilding; and the processing circuit is configured to: generate thebuilding navigation data based on a location of the first thermostat, alocation of the second thermostat, and the first location of the activeshooter; determine, based on the building navigation data, the firstbuilding navigation direction and the second building navigationdirection, wherein the first building navigation direction and thesecond building navigation direction direct a user to evacuate thebuilding on a first route that avoids the shooter within the building;and receive, via the communication interface, a second indication of thefirst emergency comprising a second location of the active shooter inthe building; update the first building navigation direction and thesecond building navigation direction based on the location of the firstthermostat, the location of the second thermostat, and the secondlocation of the active shooter, wherein the updated first buildingnavigation direction and the updated second building navigationdirection direct the user to evacuate the building on a second routethat avoids the shooter within the building.
 8. The first thermostat ofclaim 4, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:receive, via the communication interface, a second indication of asecond emergency relating to the building; determine that the secondemergency has a higher priority than the first emergency; and generatethe building navigation data based on the second indication of thesecond emergency.
 9. The first thermostat of claim 1, wherein theprocessing circuit is configured to: receive one or more data streamsvia the communications interface, the one or more data streamscomprising a plurality of messages indicating an emergency associatedwith the building; analyze the one or more data streams to identify atype of emergency within the building; and generate the buildingnavigation data based on the received one or more data streams and theidentified type of emergency within the building.
 10. The firstthermostat of claim 9, wherein the one or more data streams comprise atleast one of a weather data stream indicating weather conditionsassociated with the building, a news data stream indicating one or moreevents associated with the building, or a social media data streamindicating one or more social media postings or comments indicating anemergency.
 11. A method for displaying navigation directions in abuilding, comprising: providing a communication session between a firstthermostat of the building and at least one of a second thermostat or anetwork server; generating, by the first thermostat, building navigationdirection data for user navigation through the building; displaying, ona first display of the first thermostat, a first building navigationdirection based on the generated building navigation direction data; andcausing, by the first thermostat, a second display of the secondthermostat to display a second building navigation direction based onthe generated building navigation direction data.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein causing, by the first thermostat, the second displayof the second thermostat to display the second building navigationdirection comprises communicating, by the first thermostat, with atleast one of the second thermostat or the network server via thecommunication session.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprisingcontrolling, by the first thermostat and the second thermostat,environmental conditions of the building by generating control signalsfor controlling building equipment.
 14. The method of claim 11,comprising: receiving one or more data streams via the communicationsinterface, the one or more data streams comprising a plurality ofmessages indicating an emergency associated with the building; analyzingthe one or more data streams to identify a type of emergency within thebuilding; and generating the building navigation data based on thereceived one or more data streams and the identified type of emergencywithin the building.
 15. The method of claim 11, comprising: receiving,by the first thermostat, a first indication of a first emergencyrelating to the building; and generating, by the first thermostat, thebuilding navigation data based on the first indication of the firstemergency.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first indication ofthe first emergency comprises a first location of an active shooter inthe building as determined by a shot detection system configured todetect a location of the active shooter within the building, the methodfurther comprising: generating the building navigation data based on alocation of the first thermostat, a location of the second thermostat,and the first location of the active shooter; determining, based on thebuilding navigation data, the first building navigation direction andthe second building navigation direction, wherein the first buildingnavigation direction and the second building navigation direction directa user to evacuate the building on a first route that avoids the shooterwithin the building; receiving, via the communication interface, asecond indication of the first emergency comprising a second location ofthe active shooter in the building; and updating the first buildingnavigation direction and the second building navigation direction basedon the location of the first thermostat, the location of the secondthermostat, and the second location of the active shooter, wherein theupdated first building navigation direction and the updated secondbuilding navigation direction direct the user to evacuate the buildingon a second route that avoids the shooter within the building.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: receiving, by the firstthermostat, a second indication of a second emergency relating to thebuilding; determining, by the first thermostat, that the secondemergency has a higher priority than the first emergency; and generatingthe building navigation data based on the second indication of thesecond emergency.
 18. A system for displaying navigation directions in abuilding, the system comprising: an emergency sensor configured toprovide data relating to an emergency in the building; and a firstthermostat comprising: a communications interface configured tocommunicate with at least one of the emergency sensor, a secondthermostat, or a network server; a user interface configured to displayinformation to a user and receive input from the user; and a processingcircuit configured to: generate building navigation direction data foruser navigation through the building based on data provided by theemergency sensor; cause the user interface to display a first buildingnavigation direction based on the generated building navigationdirection data; and cause, via the communications interface, the secondthermostat to display a second building navigation direction on a seconddisplay of the second thermostat based on the generated buildingnavigation direction data.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein theprocessing circuit is configured to cause, via the communicationsinterface, the second thermostat to display the second buildingnavigation direction on the second display of the second thermostat bycommunicating with at least one of the second thermostat or the networkserver via the communications interface.
 20. The system of claim 18,wherein the data provided by the emergency sensor comprises anindication of a location of an emergency in the building; and whereinthe first building navigation direction and the second buildingnavigation direction direct a user to follow an evacuation route thatavoids the location of the emergency.